Features of Plate Tectonics - Section 12.2 Quiz

Tectonic plates, which slowly move over the surface of Earth, form the lithosphere. What is the lithosphere composed of?

The solid crust, and the uppermost parts of the mantle, which are partly molten
The solid mantle, and the uppermost parts of the crust, which are partly molten
The solid crust
The solid crust and the mantle

Earth's tectonic plates "float" on a layer of molten rock like cookies floating in boiling milk. The continents are embedded in the tectonic plates like chocolate chips in the cookie. What is the name of the process that allows this movement to occur, and where does the process take place?

Mantle convection currents in the upper mantle, known as the asthenosphere
Mantle conduction currents in the upper mantle, known as the asthenosphere
Convection currents in the lower mantle, known as the lithosphere
Convection currents in the crust, known as the lithosphere

The following illustration depicts the movement of tectonic plates.

What is the name of the process occurring at C, where one part of a tectonic plate tugs the rest of the plate along as it returns into the lower portions of the mantle?

Slab pull
Ridge push
Slab push
Ridge pull

The following illustration depicts the movement of tectonic plates.

Subduction zones are sites of convergent plate interactions. Here, a more dense tectonic plate pushes below a less dense tectonic plate, forming a trench. In the illustration, where is the subduction zone, or trench?

D
E
F
A

The following illustration depicts the movement of tectonic plates.

What is the name of divergent boundary found on land that exhibits the same process that occurs at E?

Rift valley
Volcano
Ocean ridge
Earthquake

The following illustration depicts some of Earth's tectonic plates and their boundaries.

In order, what are the plate boundaries located at A, B and C?

Convergent, Divergent and Transform
Divergent, Convergent and Transform
Transform, Convergent and Divergent
Convergent, Transform and Divergent

An magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurred on November 2, 2004, 560 km west of Tofino. The actual earthquake originated at a depth of 10 km.

Which of the following statements is correct?

The focus of the earthquake was 10 km below the ocean surface
The epicentre of the earthquake was 10 km below the ocean surface
The focus of the earthquake was 560 km west of Tofino, on the ocean's surface
The epicentre of the earthquake was 560 km west of Tofino, on the ocean's surface

A large earthquake occurs 100 km away from where you are playing soccer one evening. You would feel the P-waves about 17 seconds after the earthquake occurred, followed by the S-waves 13 seconds later. Finally, the L-waves would arrive, causing the earth to move more than the other two types of waves.

Which of the following statements is true?

The L-waves, arriving last, do the most damage because they move along the surface like ocean waves
The P-waves, arriving first, do the most damage because they move along the surface like ocean waves
The S-waves are slower and do less damage than P-waves, since they are smaller waves than P-waves
The L-waves, arriving last, do the most damage because they move through the body of Earth by squeezing and stretching like a spring

If a large earthquake occurs in Australia, which type of earthquake wave can be measured in British Columbia, all the way on the other side of the planet?

P-waves, since they stretch and compress like a spring and can travel through all types of materials
S-waves, since they travel through the molten centre of Earth
L-waves, since they travel along Earth's surface
P-waves, since they stretch and compress like a spring

Which of the following best describes shield volcanoes?

Wide volcanoes, often found underwater, that form over thin spots in the lithosphere called hot spots
Tall, cone-shaped volcanoes formed by repeated eruptions of thick lava and ash
Tall, cone-shaped volcanoes, often found underwater, that form over thin spots in the lithosphere called hot spots
Wide volcanoes, formed by repeated eruptions of thick lava and ash